First the Lions won, then England took the Ashes... now Barker's targeting more Australian misery against IBF champ Geale

Darren Barker is aiming to inflict further misery on Australian sports fans when he challenges IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale in Atlantic City on Saturday night.

The talented middleweight is for the second time fighting for a world title and in the same city where his last attempt against Argentinian Sergio Martinez ended in defeat.

He now appears a significantly fitter individual, however, and in Geale is to face a far more beatable fighter, and it is that, combined with greater confidence from the end of what he calls 'different problems', that has inspired his belief that he will continue Britain's impressive run against Australia.

Talented: And Darren Barker believes the time is right for him to become a world champion

'The rivalry between the two countries lately... Obviously England are doing a little bit better than you guys,' said Barker, who has been an injury-prone figure in recent years.

'And I apologise - but someone asked me a while back, an Australian reporter, about the rivalry between the two countries.

'I said "look, (The British Lions) beat you in the rugby, we're doing you in The Ashes, and I'm going to beat Daniele Geale on August 17", so Australian sport can rebuild on August 18.

Hungry: Barker is one of the world's leading middleweights

'We can all have a beer the next day.

'No disrespect to Daniel Geale, I just believe this is my time.'

Geale is making the fourth defence of the IBF title he won in Germany when overcoming then-champion Sebastian Sylvester in May 2011, and interestingly in Barker is to meet an opponent he first became familiar with at the 2002 Commonwealth Games when they both won gold medals at different weights.

Striff opposition: But Daniel Geale is an experienced world champion

Success down under: The British Lions won their Test series against Australia

The Ashes: Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann were among those who led England to victory